All Posts by Christina Barkanic

Easter is just a few days away, and traditionally, most families feast on ham on this holiday. While the grocery store may seem like a convenient place to purchase your main course, those hams have probably been shipped across the country in plastic. Perhaps you should rethink your vendor this year.

It’s almost April, and spring foods like green peas and asparagus are just around the corner. However, until the cold weather leaves for good, keep warm with a bowl of parsnip soup. This root vegetable is closely related to the carrot with a distinct sweet and butter flavor, which is ideal for this hearty soup.

In the small town of Lemont, just minutes outside of State College, sits an enchanting Victorian house that is home to Café Lemont. With its inviting front porch and charming exterior, Café Lemont had exceeded our expectations before we entered.

I had the pleasure of attending my first PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture) Conference at the Penn Stater last Friday. Farmers and environmentalists mingled with chefs and artists. Tables displayed everything from cheeses and jams to knitted socks and baby chicks. This place had it all – an energetic community with a common purpose: to farm with our futures in mind.

Pork is a great substitute for traditional chicken dishes that can get repetitive and boring. For this dish, garlic, shallots, and dried plums (which add a sweet zest to the sauce) compliment each other and are absorbed by the pork chops. This is a quick and easy recipe that will please all!